Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, on Friday condemned "the ongoing violations and attacks carried out by Israel in southern Lebanon, particularly the explosions targeting infrastructure and archaeological sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, causing extensive damage and serious repercussions across most villages in southern Lebanon and threatening the safety and security of citizens."

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, President Aoun said in a statement that "the massive explosions recorded today near Qalaat al-Shaqif, which generated seismic waves equivalent to a 3.8-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, according to the National Center for Geophysics, constitute an extremely dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of existing commitments. They also represent a direct threat to the process launched under the framework agreement, whose obligations Lebanon has committed to implementing."

President Aoun noted that "the timing of these attacks, on the eve of the session scheduled to be held in Rome to continue discussions on implementing the trilateral framework, sends negative messages and undermines international efforts aimed at consolidating stability." Aoun called on the sponsoring parties and the international community to "assume their responsibilities and put an end to these violations, which threaten the prospects for progress in the diplomatic process and undermine security and stability in southern Lebanon."